Bedtime Biography: Yes I Can audiobook cover - The Story of Sammy Davis Jr.

Bedtime Biography: Yes I Can

The Story of Sammy Davis Jr.

Sammy Davis, Jr. and Jane and Burt Boyar

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Biography & Memoir

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Bedtime Biography: Yes I Can
Early Life & Vaudeville+
World War II & Army Racism+
Rise to Stardom+
Breaking Barriers & Personal Toll+
Hitting Bottom & Finding Peace+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
After a distressing incident where his father struck him following a highly successful performance, what crucial professional lesson did Will Mastin teach seven-year-old Sammy?
  • A. To always demand his fair share of the performance earnings.
  • B. To never let his personal life and thoughts affect his stage performance.
  • C. To perform exclusively for integrated audiences to avoid exploitation.
  • D. To transition from vaudeville to acting in 'talkies' as soon as possible.
Question 2 of 7
How did Sammy Davis, Jr.'s experience in the US Army during World War II impact his worldview and career ambitions?
  • A. It shattered his father's illusion that hard work would protect him from racism, making him determined to use his talent to change the world.
  • B. It convinced him to abandon entertainment and pursue a career as a fighter pilot in the military.
  • C. It introduced him to Frank Sinatra, who helped him secure his first major recording contract.
  • D. It taught him the importance of performing racist caricatures to appease white officers and secure better treatment.
Question 3 of 7
Upon returning to the Will Mastin Trio after World War II, what radical change did Sammy insist on making to their act?
  • A. He demanded they perform exclusively at the Copacabana nightclub.
  • B. He insisted they eliminate racist caricatures and began doing impressions of white celebrities.
  • C. He fired his father and Will Mastin so he could perform as a solo act.
  • D. He required the trio to transition completely from tap dancing to stand-up comedy.
Question 4 of 7
What did Sammy realize was the 'secret elixir' that separated true stars from opening acts?
  • A. The ability to negotiate higher pay and headlining status.
  • B. The capacity to perform multiple talents simultaneously, like singing while tap dancing.
  • C. The ability to 'touch' the audience and make the crowd root for the performer.
  • D. The willingness to endure negative press to maintain a high public profile.
Question 5 of 7
What happened after TV host Eddie Cantor embraced Sammy Davis, Jr. on air following a performance?
  • A. The network immediately canceled Cantor's show due to low ratings.
  • B. Sammy was banned from television for the next decade.
  • C. The studio was flooded with racist hate mail, but Cantor responded by booking Sammy for two more weeks.
  • D. Sammy decided to stop performing on television to protect his physical safety.
Question 6 of 7
In the 1960s, what drew Sammy Davis, Jr. to explore and eventually convert to Judaism?
  • A. He believed it would help him secure more roles in Hollywood films.
  • B. He saw historical parallels between the worldwide repression faced by both Jewish and Black people.
  • C. It was a requirement set by May Britt's family before they could be married.
  • D. He was inspired by Frank Sinatra, who had recently converted to the faith.
Question 7 of 7
Why did some people fear that Sammy Davis, Jr.'s marriage to Swedish actress May Britt might negatively impact John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign?
  • A. May Britt was a vocal supporter of Kennedy's political opponent.
  • B. Sammy was heavily indebted to the mob, which was under investigation by the Kennedy family.
  • C. Sammy was closely associated with Frank Sinatra, who was campaigning for Kennedy, and interracial marriage was highly controversial.
  • D. Sammy had recently been accused by the press of being a communist sympathizer.

Bedtime Biography: Yes I Can — Full Chapter Overview

Bedtime Biography: Yes I Can Summary & Overview

Narrated by Jeannette Robinson

Music by Federico Coderoni

Yes I Can (1965) is the bestselling autobiography of Sammy Davis Jr, viewed as one of the best autobiographies of all time. Written halfway through his life, it tells the story of how Davis battled racism, poverty and discrimination to become a star. Starting with his difficult childhood, it traces his life from his vaudeville days to his time as one of the most famous men in America. 

Who Should Listen to Bedtime Biography: Yes I Can?

  • Fans of Sammy Davis Jr
  • Anyone who wants to learn more about racism in 20th-century America
  • Fans of vaudeville and Broadway

About the Author: Sammy Davis, Jr. and Jane and Burt Boyar

Sammy Davis Jr (1925-1990) was a singer, actor, dancer, comedian, and much, much more. He first rose to fame in the 1950s as part of a vaudeville trio with his father. He later became a household name, starring on Broadway, in Las Vegas, in his own TV show, and in hit movies such as Ocean’s 11. He wrote two autobiographies, Yes I Can, and Why Me?

Burt and Jane Boyor were a husband and wife team who wrote together. They were married from 1954 until Jane’s death in 1997. Burt died in 2018.

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